Environmental pollution comes in many forms, ranging from solid waste to water chemical contamination, plastic problems, and air pollution. Both rural and urban areas are at risk of pollution, especially the latter. Over the past century, multiple cities worldwide have witnessed the emergence of different types of pollution associated with modern industrialization, urbanization, manufacturing, and human expansion.
One such city is New York, which according to recent reports, has launched a "trash revolution" initiative to tackle its growing waste pollution and rat infestation. Both problems are related since the accumulation of garbage attracts rodents that feast on it which has been observed along some streets and beside some establishments of the Big Apple.
Amid a decades-long problem, the United States' most populous city is taking a stand.
Environmental Pollution
(Photo : Photo by Emiliano Bar on Unsplash)
Environmental pollution is a growing global issue that impacts both developed and developing economies, according to various research. Particularly, it gradually threatens living organisms such as humans, other animals, and plants. Based on previous studies, pollution has affected different ecosystems, including marine and terrestrial environments. Scientists have also recorded the deaths of some species due to exposure to pollutants.
While the global impact of pollution is already established evidence, its specific connection with loss of life is challenging to trace. However, environmental experts and authorities have found that environmental pollution is responsible for bringing health hazards and even mortality.
The latter is especially the case when a person becomes exposed to or consumed a certain type of pollutant such as man-made plastics or toxic substances.
According to the World Bank, the largest cause of disease and premature death is pollution. This environmental hazard is responsible for causing over 9 million deaths; the majority of these fatalities are due to air pollution. Moreover, this figure is even significantly greater than notorious disease like malaria, tuberculosis, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) combined, the international financial institution points out.
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New York Trash Revolution
Some cities in the US and other parts of the world, including Europe and Asia, have their varying environmental problems, as observed in the past several decades. For New York, it is a growing waste problem and rat infestation as mentioned earlier. In response, New York authorities are launching the trash revolution initiative to clean up the streets, which could potentially eliminate the city's environmental pollution.
As part of the Big Apple's war on trash, New York Mayor Eric Adams unveils a new anti-trash technology which includes an automated, side-loading garbage truck and a new data-driven containerization strategy. This is according to a news release by the New York Government earlier this year, which is part of the ongoing efforts of local authorities to make New York City as the cleanest major city in the US.
Aside from trash, New York is also battling scavenger rats that are also found in residential buildings and even in commercial establishments, a problem that is also faced by other urban centers.
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